The South African Film and Television Incentive Scheme is an important instrument of government’s industrial policy supporting local and foreign productions. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi. He was addressing the Creative Cnergy Policy and Investment Symposium hosted in Sandton.
Godlimpi said there was a need for a vibrant screen industry to create demand across multiple sectors and build skills and intellectual property while while creating jobs.
“The scale of the opportunity is demonstrated by the demand for the Film and Television Incentive Programme. During the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) received applications with a combined value of approximately R1.2 billion, while claims amounting to R727.8 million and R503.5 million were paid to qualifying beneficiaries in those respective years,” said Godlimpi.
He stated that as of 30 June 2026, the dtic reported an outstanding liability of approximately R255 million, demonstrating both the strength of demand for the programme and the fiscal pressures that have affected its implementation.
“We must, however, be candid with the industry about the challenges that have been experienced. Government recognises that delays in the processing of applications and claims can have serious consequences for production companies, particularly smaller companies whose cash flow positions are often less resilient than those of larger enterprises,” he said.
Godlimpi pointed out that government has heard the concerns of the industry, and that they understand that an incentive is only effective when it is administered efficiently, predictably and transparently.
“There has been progress in addressing the outstanding claims, with the contingent liability having declined from R273.6 million as at 30 April 2026 to R236.3 million according to the latest departmental reporting available to us. the dtic has also requested documentation confirming commencement of production shooting, and 42 applications have subsequently been submitted and verified, representing a value of approximately R597.7 million,” he said.
Godlimpi explained that these steps were part of the work underway to establish a clearer position on outstanding applications and claims, and to improve the overall administration of the programme.
“We are also strengthening the institutional machinery required to make the programme work. There has been consensus between government and industry on the urgent need to capacitate the film unit so that applications and claims can be processed more efficiently. We must ensure that the administrative capacity of the dtic keeps pace with the demand for the incentive and that producers can engage with a system that provides certainty, responsiveness and accountability,” added Godlimpi.
He said the dtic has also listened carefully to industry’s views on the future architecture of the incentive.
“In particular, industry stakeholders have expressed strong reservations about a proposed move towards a soft loan model for local productions and co-productions, indicating a preference for the continuation of grant-based funding because of concerns that a loan model could disproportionately disadvantage smaller production companies. This is an important policy discussion, because the sustainability of the industry requires us to design financial instruments that reflect the realities of the businesses we are seeking to develop” he emphasised.
He concluded that there was a need for creative solutions to recalibrate the incentive scheme and grow the film industry sustainably.
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi addressing the the Creative Cnergy Policy and Investment Symposium hosted in Sandton.
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